Mox Ruby MTG Card


Mox Ruby provides mana acceleration and can fit into diverse deck strategies due to its versatile mana boost. Its permanence, offering red mana without self-sacrifice, sets it apart from one-time use artifacts like Black Lotus. Effective counter strategies include blue counter spells and artifact removals that can negate or dismantle Mox Ruby.
Card setsReleased in 13 setsSee all
Mana cost
RarityRare
TypeArtifact

Text of card

Add 1 red mana to your mana pool. Tapping this artifact can be played as an interrupt.


Cards like Mox Ruby

Mox Ruby stands out in the panorama of mana-generating artifacts in Magic: The Gathering. It plays a part in the same league as cards like Black Lotus and Sol Ring. Black Lotus, albeit notorious for its mana provision, consumes itself upon usage. Mox Ruby, however, provides continued assistance throughout the game, supplying one Red mana each turn without any sacrificial demand.

Conversely, Sol Ring, another famed mana artifact, does generate double colorless mana every turn but lacks the specialized color aid the Mox Ruby card provides. Indeed, the ability to produce specific colored mana, especially red, offers strategic value to the player depending upon their decks and game plans.

In comparison to these iconic cards, Mox Ruby brings a different flavor to the game. The balance it introduces between durability and mana provision, combined with its specialty in red mana generation, creates a unique niche within the manifold of MTG artifact cards. Therefore, Mox Ruby always warrants consideration when assessing your artifact options in Magic: The Gathering due to its special benefits.

Black Lotus - MTG Card versions
Sol Ring - MTG Card versions
Black Lotus - MTG Card versions
Sol Ring - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Mox Ruby by color, type and mana cost

Great Furnace - MTG Card versions
Great Furnace - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Mox Ruby. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Lurrus SagaLurrus Saga VintageLurrus SagaVintage Challenge 32 2024-04-28
Prison ShopsPrison Shops VintagePrison ShopsVintage League 2024-04-28
Jewel ShopsJewel Shops VintageJewel ShopsVintage Preliminary 2024-04-30
Boros PrisonBoros Prison VintageRed PrisonVintage League 2024-05-01
Jeskai ControlJeskai Control VintageJeskai ControlVintage League 2024-04-30
Mono-White InitiativeMono-White Initiative VintageMono-White InitiativeVintage Challenge 32 2024-04-28
WUBWUB VintageVintage Preliminary 2024-04-30
Oath of DruidsOath of Druids VintageOath of DruidsVintage League 2024-04-29
Selesnya AggroSelesnya Aggro VintageMono-White AggroVintage Challenge 32 2024-04-28
Paradoxical OutcomeParadoxical Outcome VintageParadoxical OutcomeVintage League 2024-04-28

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Mox Ruby does not directly provide a benefit in terms of card draw, but its efficient mana acceleration can free up your other cards to focus on drawing and maintaining card advantage. This can contribute significantly to card advantage if played correctly.

Resource Acceleration: Mox Ruby provides an incredible resource acceleration boost. This artifact taps to add one red mana, assisting in early turn strategies by curving out your plays ahead of schedule. This quick accumulation of resources gives you the upper hand over your opponent, making this card a valuable addition to any deck.

Instant Speed: Mox Ruby’s ability is not at instant speed but, being an artifact, it can be played during your main phases. While its activation doesn’t require waiting for the stack to empty, the non-instant nature may influence the strategy in how the card is played. Nonetheless, it remains a valuable asset for its speed of mana generation, opening up options during your turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Mox Ruby necessitates that you forfeit another card from your hand when this card makes its presence. If your hand is already scanty, this requires caution as it could lead to a disastrous situation where you are left hanging dry during crucial moments of the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Pulling Mox Ruby into action isn’t a particularly straightforward task. It requires a particular red mana, which confines its potential to decks that can produce such mana freely. This can be a substantial drawback in the event you’re running a multi-colored deck where red mana is scarce.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its potential in the long game, the underlying issue with Mox Ruby is its comparatively high mana cost. For merely one mana, there are alternative cards that could deliver more in terms of resource mobilization or card draw. As great as Mox Ruby might seem, the value proposition isn’t always as favorable as it initially appears.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Mox Ruby card, one of the illustrious Power Nine, effortlessly slots into various deck types due to its ability for instant mana acceleration. This enables a swift casting of powerful spells, granting the deck an advantage.

Combo Potential: Mox Ruby blends perfectly with cards needing artifacts or the right amount of mana to trigger combos. Its free mana ability is beneficial in orchestrating explosive starts or recovering from a disruption.

Meta-Relevance: Mox Ruby remains relevant in the meta-game, particularly in formats that permit its use. Its ability to proliferate early-game power strategies makes it a must-have in these decks.


How to beat

Mox Ruby is an assertive and revered accrual in the world of Magic: The Gathering. This card holds a striking resemblance to its counterparts like Black Lotus in terms of its ability to create extra mana resources without any cost. Mox Ruby, however, stands out due to its unique trait of providing one red mana every turn.

Notably, blue counter spells such as Mana Drain and Counterspell can effectively negate the Mox Ruby. These spells hinder the summoning of Mox Ruby, subsequently obstructing its mana generation ability. In other situations, you can use artifact removals such as Shatter or Smash to Smithereens, which can successfully dismantle the Mox Ruby and take it out of play.

Permanent cards that can tap or render the Mox Ruby useless are also very effective. Consider using the Winter Orb which slows the game, or the Stony Silence which prevents the activation of artifact abilities. If you recognize the potential threat of Mox Ruby amongst your opponent’s arsenal, being prepared with strategic cards that focus on artifact removal, nullifying or slowing down, can help you take control of the game.

In summary, comprehending the strengths and potential counterplays can allow you to strategically deal with a powerful card like Mox Ruby in Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding Mox Ruby’s role in optimizing your MTG arsenal is crucial for any seasoned player. While the pros and cons debate offers insight, including this artifact in your collection could be a game-changer. It’s not just about owning a piece of Magic’s history with the Power Nine, it’s about harnessing raw mana efficiency on the battlefield. Comparing Mox Ruby to similar cards reveals its unique continued mana flow, an edge worth considering. So, are you ready to give your red deck the boost it deserves or craft that perfect combo? Dive deeper with us to discover strategies and gain a competitive advantage.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mox Ruby MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Mox Ruby and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Mox Ruby Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 4 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-08-05Limited Edition AlphaLEA 2641993NormalBlackDan Frazier
21993-10-04Limited Edition BetaLEB 2651993NormalBlackDan Frazier
31993-12-01Unlimited Edition2ED 2651993NormalWhiteDan Frazier
41993-12-10Collectors' EditionCED 2651993NormalBlackDan Frazier
51993-12-10Intl. Collectors' EditionCEI 2651993NormalBlackDan Frazier
62002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 469522003NormalBlackVolkan Baǵa
72003-01-01Vintage ChampionshipOVNT 2017EU2015NormalBlackRaoul Vitale
82003-01-01Vintage ChampionshipOVNT 20082003NormalBlackVolkan Baǵa
92003-01-01Vintage ChampionshipOVNT 2021C2015NormalBlackJarel Threat
102014-06-16Vintage MastersVMA 82015NormalBlackVolkan Baǵa
112022-10-05Alchemy: DominariaYDMU 392015NormalBlackVolkan Baǵa
122022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 5581997NormalBlackDan Frazier
132022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 2612015NormalBlackDan Frazier

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mox Ruby has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolRestricted
CommanderBanned
LegacyBanned
OathbreakerBanned
VintageRestricted
DuelBanned
PredhBanned